Heroic Wife Reborn

Consort Zhao was ready to die. Even though she’d decided to give up on Yi Ziming, he was still her flesh and blood that she had carried to term for ten months, birthed with much effort, and carefully raised and nurtured for three and a half years. Why wouldn’t she be impatient with worry?

Xianzong only saw that Consort Zhao was adamant that someone had designs against Yu Ziming even after he questioned her personally. She refused to admit that she’d ordered someone to take away his sixth son, which made him furious. Ever since the empress’s death, Linglong’s marriage, Jing Mo’s arrival, and Zuo You’s excessive demands, Xianzong had nothing but bad days. Now even Consort Zhao, his source of comfort, was going against him. At last, he exploded against her.

Consort Hua and the rest never thought they’d live to see such a good show one day. Although they began to plea for mercy for Consort Zhao, their words only added fuel to the fire. If anything, they wished Xianzong would grow angry enough to just kill that slut in a fit of fury.

“Someone come,” Xianzong said to Jing Zhong in a rare moment of intelligence after his ragefest, “You, bring people to the Zhao Estate and ask Zhao Qiuming where His Sixth Highness has gone. If he doesn’t answer, interrogate him for Zhen!”

Consort Hua and the rest were ready to set off fireworks in celebration. Who knew that His Majesty would be so wise and brilliant this time! As Jing Zhong accepted the decree and prepared to leave, Consort Hua said to Xianzong, “Your Majesty, Jing Zhong still needs to lead people to search for His Sixth Highness’s whereabouts in the palace. How could he be in two places at once?”

Xianzong slapped his forehead. “Jing Zhong, you don’t need to go anymore.”

Seizing this chance, Consort Hua suggested, “Have the imperial guards go instead. The Zhao Estate has many retainers and Zhao Beicheng’s a Great General as well.”

“Then that’s how it’ll be,” Xianzong waved his hand.

If Jing Zhong had brought the men to the Zhao Estate, there might be room for negotiation. But now that the imperial guards were going in his place, it would be hard to say. How could things devolve to this state? Everything had gone according to plan without a single mistake, but look at this now?! Which damned person had taken away Yu Ziming? Consort Zhao was so angry that blood rose to her throat before she fainted away.

Consort Hua looked at her unconscious form and sighed to Xianzong. “In the end, little sister Zhao was doing all this for the sake of her son.”

Xianzong tossed his sleeves and stalked off without a single glance at Consort Zhao.

—

At the Gu Estate, Wang momo was scared out of her wits as she mechanically dressed Yu Ziming. Her princess was sitting on one side, eating her breakfast with satisfaction.

Wang momo said, “Princess, how could you bring His Sixth Highness out of the palace?”

“His mother doesn’t want him anymore,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied, “I can’t just abandon him.”

Wang momo looked at Gu Xinglang, who was still lying on the bed, and silently asked him why the princess should bother with Consort Zhao’s son. Gu Xinglang met her searching gaze and didn’t know how to reply. He had no idea about anything, after all.

“Eldest imperial princess,” Yu Ziming said, “Does my imperial mother really–really not want me anymore?”

“Didn’t you tell me that yourself?” Yu Xiaoxiao replied.

The little beansprout thought it over carefully and recalled his words from last night. Yu Xiaoxiao set down her empty bowl of porridge and picked up another fried dough stick (油条) before she spoke. “If you’re a real man, then stop thinking of women all day. A man aspires to travel far and make his mark in the world.”

“That doesn’t sound right?” Wang momo asked Gu Xinglang.

Of course missing one’s mother was different from thinking of women, so Gu Xinglang asked Yu Xiaoxiao, “Princess, how could a mother be any ordinary woman?”

Yu Xiaoxiao munched on her dough stick without looking up beyond a simple “Mhm.” It was obvious that she was interested in the topic.

After Wang momo finished dressing Yu Ziming, she suddenly recalled something and stuffed the prince into the Royal Son-in-Law’s arms. Running to Yu Xiaoxiao, she cried, “Aiyamahah,1 I remember, princess!”

Yu Xiaoxiao quickly lifted her head at the shouts. “What is it?”

“His Seventh Highness,” Wang momo shouted, “Did anyone tell Second Young Master to bring His Seventh Highness back?”

Yu Xiaoxiao stared at Wang momo with her mouth full of dough stick. Oh no, I forgot about Little Seventh.

Gu Xinglang turned 囧 while Yu Ziming sat against his stomach. He forgot all about his second brother yesterday, too.

“You forgot?” Wang momo glared at Yu Xiaoxiao.

Yu Xiaoxiao swallowed her mouthful of dough stick and said, “I forgot.” If she did, she had to be brave and admit it. Naturally, a person as bold as the princess wouldn’t deny her mistakes.

Wang momo turned to look at Gu Xinglang. My family’s princess might be unreliable, but you too, Royal Son-in-Law?

Gu Xinglang was a bold man too, so he admitted, “It’s my fault.”

Wang momo was in utter despair. If Esteemed Empress’s spirit still lives in the Heavens, could she die content like this?

Yu Xiaoxiao polished off three more dough sticks before walking to the bed and stuffing a white mantou into Yu Ziming’s hands. “I’ll bring you back home.”

“You’re taking him back just like that?” Gu Xinglang asked.

“You want to keep Little Sixth for a meal?” Yu Xiaoxiao asked back.

Gu Xinglang shut up. He really didn’t. Yu Xiaoxiao picked up Yu Ziming and set off. If she kept this kid around any longer, she’d have to treat him to lunch. It was better to save food where she could. Wang momo chased her to the door, but by then the princess had vanished from sight. She could only turn back and ask Gu Xinglang with a heavy heart, “Royal Son-in-Law, would the palace have discovered His Sixth Highness missing by now?”

“……” said Gu Xinglang.

“Royal Son-in-Law, you didn’t think of that?” Wang momo asked. She could forget about her princess having a useful brain, but the Royal Son-in-Law had led troops and fought in battle. Certainly, his brain had to be better off?

However, Gu Xinglang had experienced a fright right after waking up, then gone back to bed with Yu Xiaoxiao and Yu Ziming. Right now his mind was devoid of any thoughts. Wang momo’s questions made him consider the situation, but since the prince had already been out of the palace for an entire night, saying anything now seemed useless.

“Royal Son-in-Law?” Wang momo could only depend on him now.

“I’ll go pay the palace a visit,” Gu Xinglang replied. “The princess is still young and has deep ties of sibling affection with His Sixth Highness. I’ll explain everything to His Majesty.”

Wang momo’s body shuddered at his turn of phrasing. With a twisted expression, she said, “That’s good. Royal Son-in-Law, please wait while this servant calls for Little Zhuang and Wei to help you rise from bed.” If the Royal Son-in-Law was around, he could take on half of His Majesty’s temper when he lost it at the princess. For the sake of her family’s worrisome princess, Wang momo’s heart couldn’t help but turn dark.

—

Yu Xiaoxiao held Yu Ziming by the collar as she climbed over the walls of the Gu Estate.

Yu Ziming asked, “Eldest imperial princess, why didn’t we use the gates?”

“It’s closer this way,” Yu Xiaoxiao replied.

Yu Ziming then said, “Eldest imperial princess, I want to be carried.”

Yu Xiaoxiao thought it over before having the little beansprout sit on her shoulder. She used to carry rocket launchers the same way, so this was no problem for her. As Yu Ziming sat on her shoulder, he wrapped his tiny hands around her neck and said, “Eldest imperial sister, are we going home right away? I miss my maternal grandfather.”